"I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear."

As Martin Luther King Jr. day was approaching I walked into a kindergarten class as they were discussing a movie on Dr. King. In that moment I saw the innocent lives who were learning what it meant to love everyone despite the color of their skin. They were learning to look at people because of the content of their character. I watched as these precious lives sat with pure joy because they got to be friends with their African American, Asian, German, Native American, and even Caucasian children. I saw these students have love for their teachers, even though one was white and the other was black. I saw the hope of our future wrapped in hearts of a class of kindergartners.

"Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love."

The Martin Luther King Jr. holiday celebrates the life and legacy of a man who brought hope and healing to America, not just through his words but also through his actions. On this holiday, we commemorate the universal, unconditional love, forgiveness, and nonviolence that empowered his revolutionary spirit and the values he upheld to the end. His words helped fill a void that would bridge the gap between this country. I am glad he didn't just rely on his words to take him far but his actions were even bigger!

"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy."

Martin Luther King Jr. fought for racial justice and equality for all. So why not celebrate how far we come? Because of him and his words and actions, I can go to church with a multitude of races. I can have a second family of a different race and not be told we can't love each other. Because of him we can come together as one! We can love, forgive, and grow towards a better nation! However, we cannot stop there. We still have farther to go!

"Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase."

This holiday is a day of remembrance, yes, but ultimately it is a day of service and spreading unconditional love. So wake up on Martin Luther King Jr. day and not just remember what he did, but think what you can do to make this day a day of love and peace.

"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter."